CPTnet
September 23, 2004
IRAQ: Marooned by choice
by Mabel V. Brunk
I have never experienced being stranded on an isolated island with no sea or
air transportation available. But I am now experiencing voluntary isolation
in the busy city of Baghdad.
For several days, Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) members in Iraq have
chosen to remain indoors, with doors double-locked and drapes closed. This
action followed the recent abduction from their home of two Italian women
and their two Iraqi colleagues. They were part of the humanitarian agency, A
Bridge to Baghdad and vocal in their opposition to the Iraq war.
When one is involuntarily marooned, he or she must concentrate on how to
leave. We, in voluntary isolation, have the choice of opening the door and
walking down the street to shop for groceries or riding a taxi to keep
appointments as usual.
How do we choose what to do? We consult trusted Iraqi colleagues,
neighbors, church leaders, sheikhs and our landlord. We hear from former
Iraq CPT members. We pray. We listen to each other.
Making choices is hard work. We are not passive recipients of someone
else's actions. We are free to evaluate, to weigh alternative plans, to
decide next steps, to consider long term consequences of our choices.
Making decisions by consensus takes time. Listening patiently, trying to
hear others' ideas and re-thinking our own stated opinions is hard work.
Our choices affect our Iraqi friends; we are grateful that friends phone
often and come to visit us at a time when association with foreigners may
endanger them.
May we listen to the Spirit speaking to our hearts and speaking through
friends and colleagues as we choose when and how to end our isolation.
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(Mennonites, Church of the Brethren, and Quakers) with support and
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